Full Abstracts

September 24, 2008
Soo Kim, Georgia Tech
"Single Atoms in Cavity QED applications"
Cavity QED systems consisting of neutral atoms coupled to high finesse optical microcavities establish important applications to quantum information processing and communication. To utilize a single atom as a qubit in cavity QED requires exquisite control over both the internal and external degrees of freedom of the atom. I will outline the benefits of using neutral atoms for quantum computing processes and present our continuing progress towards realizing a two atom quantum gate utilizing dual neutral atom registers in a high finesse optical cavity.

October 1, 2008

Douglas Hall, University of Notre Dame

"Recent Advances in Photonic Integration"
Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are beginning to evolve much as electronic integrated circuits have over the past several decades. Along with an overview of other recent developments in photonic integration, I will discuss our own recent research on semiconductor lasers and optical amplifiers employing thermally-grown native oxides of III-V compound semiconductors such as AlGaAs and InAlP. In particular, we have demonstrated a new method for fabricating high-index-contrast ridge waveguide lasers with low bend and scattering losses. Other efforts to develop integrated erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers (EDWAs) suited for low-cost wavelength division multiplexed optical fiber communications will also be discussed. Finally, I will share my personal reflections on my professional journey thus far from my undergraduate education in Physics at Miami University to my present applied physics/electrical engineering research and teaching activities as a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame.

October 8, 2008

Linn Van Woerkom, The Ohio State University

 "Lighting the Way to Fusion Energy"

 Advances in laser technology over the past few decades have lead to the reality of lasers with energies as high as megajoules (10⁶ Joules) per pulse and pulse durations as short as a few femtoseconds (10^-15 seconds). Large energy laser systems are capable of inertially compressing material to densities and temperatures found inside stars. Extremely short pulses routinely yield peak laser powers in the hundreds of terawatts (10¹² Watts). The combination of high energy and short pulses together produces focused laser intensities that accelerate electrons to ultra-relativistic velocities. Currently we sit on the threshold of being able to harness these types of lasers to produce realistic laser driven fusion energy sources. The concepts of laser fusion and the required complex intense-laser physics will be presented with examples of recent and proposed experiments that light the way to achieving such power plants.

October 15, 2008

Robert Compton, NIST

 "Quantum Simulation of Condensed Matter Systems"

Condensed matter phenomena ranging from magnetism to superconductivity have provided physicists with a good century of intriguing research problems.  Most of these systems involve many electrons interacting quantum mechanically, making even numerical computation difficult, despite ever increasing processor speeds.  Quantum computers promise an exponential increase in processing speed for certain types of problems, but most models are back ordered.  In the meantime, we can try to simulate condensed matter systems by trapping ultracold atoms in tailored potentials that mimic those that occur naturally in condensed matter systems.  These highly tunable potentials are created by overlapping or interfering beams of laser light, allowing atoms to experience a periodic lattice in analogy to electrons in a crystal or perhaps strong geometric confinement in analogy to a 2D electron gas.  As an example of this program, we present our efforts to simulate the behavior of a charged particle in a magnetic field.  In this case the atoms are “dressed” with a light field in a spatially varying manner.  An ultimate goal of such work might be to mimic the exotic quantum Hall physics of a 2D electron gas.

October 22, 2008

Herbert Jaeger, Miami University

"Acoustic impedance: what good is it, and how is it measured?"

This talk introduces the concept of acoustic impedance and shows how it is similar to the more familiar electric impedance. Acoustic impedance plays a central role when it comes to describing the propagation of sound waves in pipes of various shapes, thus it is desirable to perform impedance measurements to characterize an acoustic system. A simple method of measuring the acoustic impedance is presented, along with some examples of how this may be used to illustrate acoustic effects and properties in a physical acoustics course for non-science majors. 

November 5, 2008

Andrew Sarangan, University of Dayton

 "Nano-structured materials for imaging polarimetry"

In this talk, I will describe some of our latest efforts in developing novel components for applications in imaging polarimetry in the visible and infrared bands. The polarization content of an image is often disregarded in conventional imaging, but it contains a wealth of information, just like a color photograph contains more information than a grayscale photo. Real-time imaging polarimetry requires pixel-sized polarizers at different orientations on the detector surface. Commonly available sheet polarizers cannot be easily processed in thin film form to allow integration with imaging sensors. This presents a major technological challenge. Currently used techniques such as wiregrid micropolarizers, as well as recent research efforts on nano-structured metals and dielectrics with specially engineered optical properties will be discussed in this talk.

November 19, 2008

Dennis Keeler, Miami University

"Non-Euclidean geometry and the shape of the Universe"
An introduction to non-Euclidean geometry will be presented, with a particular emphasis on hyperbolic geometry. Similarities and differences between Euclidean (i.e., high school) geometry and hyperbolic geometry will be visually demonstrated. Applications to physics and cosmology will also be discussed.

December 3, 2008

V.M. Balasubramaniam, Ohio State University

"Food Preservation by High Pressure Processing"
Consumers demand healthier fresh tasting foods with no or minimal preservatives.  To address the need, the food industry is exploring alternative preservation methods such as high pressure processing (HPP). It is a method of food processing where the food is subjected to elevated pressures (up to 700 MPa), with or without the addition of heat, to achieve microbial inactivation or to alter the food attributes in order to achieve consumer-desired qualities.  The pressures used in HPP are almost ten times greater than in the deepest oceans on earth.  High pressure processing offers food processor exciting opportunities to develop new generation of value added pasteurized and shelf-stable foods that can preserve functional food ingredients. The process destroys harmful microorganisms at low or moderate temperatures without significantly changing organoleptic and nutritional properties of food materials. Pressure pasteurization technology has been commercialized in North America (Canada, Mexico, USA), Europe (Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, UK), and Asia (including China, Japan, Korea). Guacamole, salsa, smoothies, deli meat, oysters, and cooked ham are examples of commercial products in the market.  The presentation will provide brief overview about high pressure processing, equipment choices for food processors, in-situ food properties under pressure, and current food pasteurization and sterilization applications for food safety and quality.